As you all know, I have been working on the COOKING UP A CURE recipe book for some time now.  I have been gathering all your recipes you have been sending to me, and I’d like to thank you all for taking the time to do that.  The profits of this book are going to the American Diabetes Association, as my husband was a juvenile diabetic and passed away from the disease in 1993 at the age of 35.

If you haven’t sent in a recipe, please do so.  They don’t have to be diabetic recipes, although there will be a section for those.  I’m just asking for family favorites and anything you’d like to share.

Since we are coming into the Holiday Season I found an article about the best herbs and spices for our health!

Ginger – Ginger is a great digestive aid.  Use it in holiday cookies, make a ginger tea or keep some real giner ale on hand for guest who overindulge.  You can also add it to sweet potatos and pinapple desserts.  It is not hard to find anymore at the grocery, so don’t leave it out this year.

Garlic – Garlic provides antimicrobial properties beneficial for colds and nasal congestion.  It also helps lower cholesteral and blood pressure and supports the immune system.  I like garlic in just about everything.  You can buy it already chopped up and fresh in the produce department.  I even add fresh garlic in my salads, hamburgers, steamed veggies etc….

Cinnamon - This antixidant and antiviral has been used to treat digestive upsets and also helps regulate blood suar, lowers high cholesterol levels and improve insulin sensitivity.  You don’t have to use all the added sugar that goes along with it.  Have any of you tried the sweetner Stevia?  It is not a chemical and is much better for you than even Splenda.  Use Cinnamon in sweet potatoes, pies, cookies, baked apples, apple cider or add it to your green tea.  Just 1 teaspoon a day added to your whole wheat toast in the morning can make a difference.

Sage - A member of the mint family, this herb has antioxident properties.  Sage also possesses hypoglycemic qualities that help those with diabetes.  Use in stuffings, cheeses, breads, soups and sauces.

Oregano - With 20 times the antioxidant activity of other herbs (who would have guessed?) oregano fights against the flu.  It is not only for Italian foods, but use it in stuffings, seafoods, potatoes and veggie dishes.  It is also good to use in olive oil on salads and breads.

My family is getting together this weekend, before Thanksgiving, so I’m searching online for healthy recipe ideas.  Thanks for all your kindness in helping me and others with your ideas!

Send them to me at : kblake@MyPartDusa.org

This just in from a caring reader:

Hi, Karyn.  It is J. Adams in Kentucky again….just read your article on “YOU HAD BETTER SHOP AROUND”.  You are absolutely correct in that generics do not have to be charged against your $2,830 you get in drug benefits before you hit the “dreaded donut hole” in 2010.  In fact, even though most pharmacies will ask for your medicare number, you must DECLINE this and end any possibility the pharmacy can charge your Part D plan.  I use Krogers and get a 30 day supply of generics for $4 each.  In the beginning they asked for my Medicare number and Social Security Number.  I SIMPLY DECLINED AND TOLD THEM I’D BE PAYING FOR MY GENERICS MYSELF. No problem from them after that!  I also told them they had no need for that information.

Please feel free to pass this tip onto your other people with these questions  Please tell your people there are other ways they can verify who you are.  Kroger uses my date of birth and the last 4 digits of my telephone number. It works just fine!

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR SHARING THAT GREAT TIP, J. in Kentucky

QUESTION:  I am losing my Retirement Plan from my company I worked at for many years.  They are telling me that I can only choose between plans they are giving me at this insurance enrollment number.  If I use another enrollment method or get different plans from what they are offering they won’t pay for it anymore.  Can they do this?  What do I really need to be concerned about getting on Medicare?

ANSWER:  Yes, Virginia, there really is a Santa Claus!  I’m sorry for being sarcastic, but it is amazing to me that companies out there are trying to confuse people getting on Medicare.  YOU STILL HAVE CHOICES JUST LIKE EVERY OTHER AMERICAN CITIZEN WHEN THEY ARE FIRST GETTING ON MEDICARE!! What your company is really saying is…..we have made a deal with these “certain” insurance companies that if you “enroll” with them AND take out the plans “we want you to take out”  WE WILL HELP YOU PAY FOR IT.

Most people when they retire go on Medicare with no financial help.  Usually if you have retired from a company, you can afford the $100 a month, give or take a little, for premium on a MedicareSupplement/Medigap plan, which is most certainly the best coverage and what you should be offered. If you are desperate and cannot afford this premium, THEN and only THEN should you take up the offer from your employer and join a Medicare Advantage Plan.  This is INFERIOR COVERAGE AND HAS NO NETWORK OF DOCTORS OR HOSPITALS THAT WILL ACCEPT THESE PLANS. Also, they are not going to be available after 2011 anyway.  So, my “educated guess” (yes, I’m being sarcastic again)  is that since the insurance company gets paid at least twice the commission for selling you Medicare Advantage Plans, they want to get these sold as long as they can, and they make some kind of “deal” with your employer.

After 2011, you will be right back in the same spot of choosing another kind of health plan.  Please read more about Medicare Advantage Plans under the “category section” on the left side of the homepage of the blog.

What you need to do is to call a local agent that you trust, or contact us and get a comparison of Premiums on a Medicare Supplement/Medigap plan and also a comparison based on your drugs, of a Stand Alone Part D for drugs plan.  That is ALL you NEED.

Now some of you are also used to having dental and vision coverage under your retirement program.  There are no insurance plans for people on Medicare for dental and vision.  The Medicare Advantage Plans have these little teaser benefits, but nothing like you used to have and should not be a deciding factor in chosing to use a Medicare Advantage Plan.  Believe me, if there were any kind of decent vision and dental plan out there for Medicare beneficiaries, I would have found it.  There are plans you can join, BUT THE PREMIUM IS NOT WORTH THE BENEFITS, OR YOU ARE WASTING YOUR MONEY. There are plenty of salespeople out there that will sell you dental and vision plans all day long.  So just think about that…..

When picking out a Part D plan, the only thing you need to worry about is saving the most on your co-pay and premium for the first $2,830 worth of drugs you buy.  After that, you don’t need to use your drug plan at all….you NEED TO SHOP AROUND AND BUY YOUR DRUGS AT THE PLACE YOU CAN FIND THE BEST PRICE NOT USING YOUR DRUG CARD.   ALSO, BEGIN THE YEAR BY NOT BUYING YOUR GENERICS ON YOUR DRUG CARD. If you read my other blogs about “drug savings tips” you will understand how this will keep you OUT of the DREADED DONUT HOLE LONGER EACH YEAR!   The only people who should buy all their drugs on their drug plan are those that will hit the donut hole and reach the other side to the 95% coverage!!  Get past that donut hole ASAP and begin getting your 95% coverage.

So, please find yourself a comparison of Medicare Supplement/Medigap plans and a Part D Plan, based on your prescriptions and enroll on those 2 things.  You will be glad you did!!!!

Go to www.MyPartDusa.com and enter in your drugs and tell us what situation you are dealing with in the comments.  We will honestly help you understand and get the best coverage!!!

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:  Life isn’t about waiting for the storm to pass, but learning to dance in the rain.

Many of you have lost your employer coverage recently.  We know how suddenly being thrown into the Medicare system with every insurance company sending you information on their products can be so confusing and downright overwhelming!

We have also heard that some companies and even government employees and teachers have been offered ONLY a choice of Medicare Advantage Plans.  Some companies even tell their employees that if they use a PARTICULAR INSURANCE AGENCY to take out their coverage they will get more money to help pay for it.  In other words they are steering you to use a particular insurance agency or insurance company if you want any financial help to pay for your Medicare coverage.

This is amazing!  ARE THEY REALLY TAKING AWAY YOUR CHOICES?  NO, THEY ARE NOT!

They are making you feel as though your only options are to take what they want you to take, when the truth is, when you lose coverage from your employer, you are FREE to join whatever plans you KNOW are best for you, and that is CERTAINLY NOT a Medicare Advantage Plan.  Please read my other blogs under the category section on the left hand side under MEDICARE ADVANTAGE PLANS.

Please know that it is NOT to your advantage to choose anything other than using your Original Medicare Benefits, Part A & Part B and joining a Medicare Supplement/Medigap Plan and a stand alone Part D plan.  You may not get the extra $50 a month to help pay for it, but if you can possibly pay for a premium for a Medigap plan, you must decide to do what is in your best interests.

The main reason these companies want you to join Medicare Advantage Plans is the commission is so much higher for them.  They make more money when you join Medicare Advantage Plans.   I’ll let you wonder why your employer would only give you Medicare Advantage Plans as an option???  You can think about that.

In the year 2011, there will no longer be Medicare Advantage Plans as we know them today.  Even this year, many, many Medicare Advantage Plans have taken themselves OFF the market and many peope are losing coverage from their Medicare Advantage Plan.  The main reason for this is they have NO NETWORK OF DOCTORS  OR HOSPITALS THAT WILL TAKE THIS COVERAGE. You have no way of knowing if the doctor you have seen the past 10 years is going to accept the Medicare Advantage Plan or your preferred hospital will take the coverage.  If they do take it NOW, they can STOP taking it anytime they choose and you will be without coverage.

Tell me, WHY would you take that risk? Medicare Advantage Plans do not pay for durable medical equipment and many times your health is left up to the bean counters, not your doctor!  If you can afford the premium on a Medigap plan, why would you risk your healthcare?

So, the main point I am trying to make is do NOT feel trapped into taking whatever they throw at you.  You have the same choices as anyone else getting on Medicare coverage and you can choose to go to any agency, any website, any company that YOU CHOOSE, to find the best, most affordable coverage.

We can help you here if you are losing employer coverage to give you Medigap cost comparisons along with Part D drug plan comparisons.   We have helped thousands of GM, Whirlpool and other companies retirees…..JUST READ ALL OUR TESTIMONIALS!

GO TO www.MyPartDusa.com and enter in your meds and tell us what your concerns are about your choices today.

EVERYONE ON A MEDICARE PART D DRUG PLAN NEEDS TO GET A DRUG PLAN COMPARISON OF ALL THE PART D PLANS BEGINNING NOVEMBER 15.  YOU CAN CHANGE YOUR DRUG PLAN FOR 2010 UNTIL DECEMBER 31. THE EARLIER YOU GET YOUR COMPARISON AND MAKE YOUR DECISION THE QUICKER YOU WILL HAVE IN HAND YOUR NEW PART D DRUG CARDS WHICH GO INTO EFFECT JANUARY 1ST, 2010.

WE WILL HAVE THOSE COMPARISONS LIVE ONLINE FOR YOU TO SEE FOR YOURSELF ON NOVEMBER 15 – DEC. 31.  YOU WILL NEED TO LIST THE MEDICATIONS YOU TAKE AND MAKE SURE YOU USE THE GENERIC NAME IF YOU TAKE A GENERIC TO GET AN ACCURATE COMPARISON.

AS YOU KNOW, ALL THE DRUG PLANS  CHANGE THE DRUGS THEY COVER AND THE CO-PAY AMOUNTS THEY CHARGE YOU EACH YEAR DURING THE ANNUAL ELECTION PERIOD OF NOV. 15 THRU DEC. 31ST.  IF YOU FAIL TO GET A NEW COMPARISON, YOU MAY BE VERY, VERY UPSET AT THE PRICES YOU ARE CHARGED AND THEN IT WILL BE TOO LATE TO CHANGE!

IF YOU ARE LOSING YOUR DOCTOR AND HOSPITAL COVERAGE OR TURNING 65, PLEASE TELL US IN THE COMMENTS SECTION AS WE WILL NEED TO TALK WITH YOU TO EXPLAIN YOUR OPTIONS & PROVIDE YOU WITH A COMPARISON OF MEDICARE SUPPLEMENTS.

IF YOU ONLY NEED A DRUG PLAN COMPARISON, ALL THAT INFORMATION IS LISTED FOR YOU ONLINE AS IT IS HUMANLY IMPOSSIBLE  TO TALK TO EACH PERSON ABOUT DRUG PLANS.

THERE ARE OVER 50 DRUG PLANS  TO CHOOSE FROM IN EACH STATE ALL WITH DIFFERENT PRICES AND DRUGS THEY COVER.  WE DO THESE DRUG PLAN COMPARISONS WITH EACH OF YOUR DRUGS AND CO-PAYS LISTED SO THAT YOU CAN CLEARLY SEE WHICH DRUG PLAN WILL SAVE YOU THE MOST MONEY.  THIS IS A FREE SERVICE!!

MANY OF YOU WILL BE LOSING YOUR EMPLOYER COVERAGE OR LOSING YOUR MEDICARE ADVANTAGE PLAN.  WE CAN HELP YOU REPLACE THIS COVERAGE AND GIVE YOU COMPARISONS OF PRICES FOR DOCTOR AND HOSPITAL COVERAGE.  THERE IS NO NEED TO PAY MORE THAN YOU NEED TO PAY!

How many of you take a fish oil supplement?

I have a personal story I’d like to share with you.

Like so many people I had told myself I was “too busy” to take care of myself.  By the time I was 48 I was already on blood pressure meds and had stopped doing any kind of real exercise.  When my 50th birthday rolled around this year I was almost crippled from a knee injury and was not getting any better.  When I went to my doctor for blood work I found out my cholesterol was very high.  I decided I’d better do something to help myself.

Since I work with people already on Medicare and see the long lists of drugs people are taking, I could see the writing on the wall…blood pressure meds, cholesterol lowering drugs and on and on.  I went to a personal trainer to get help for my knee after surgery and he immediately told me to begin taking fish oil and actually gave me my first bottle.  Since I have been learning to eat better and doing regular workouts and taking the fish oil, and a couple of other supplements, I have been able to STOP

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taking the blood pressure meds and my cholesterol levels have significantly lowered, ALL WITHOUT TAKING MORE MEDICATIONS.

I have been reading online about supplements and have read so much about how fish oil can help people get off medications and wanted to share this with all of you.  Drugs are so expensive and the more we can do to avoid taking them the better!

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You must not stop taking anything until you speak with your doctor, голова болит секс but even folks that take anti-inflammatory drugs such as Vioxx and Celebrex have been able to stop taking those as well.

It does take several months to see significant improvement, but it can be done.  People don’t usually change their habits until the effects of NOT changing are worse than staying on the same path.  That is what happened to me.  I could see what was happening to my body and it was not a “good thing”, as Martha Stewart would say.

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Change is hard.  The best thing I did was find a way to make myself “accountable”.  You can begin by writing down everything you put in your mouth and tell someone what you are trying to do.  Set goals to weigh only 1 time each month and begin the supplements.  If you go see your doctor on a regular basis, tell him/her your goals.

Wouldn’t it be fantastic if in 6 months you could cut in half the number of drugs you needed to take?  This is my best DRUG SAVINGS TIP!

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IF YOU HAVE ANY PERSONAL STORIES OF USING SUPPLEMENTS AND WOULD LIKE TO SHARE THEM WITH ME, PLEASE WRITE TO ME!  I’D LOVE TO KNOW WHAT YOU HAVE DONE SO WE CAN ENCOURAGE EACH OTHER!

HOW MANY OF YOU LISTEN TO THE TALKING HEADS EVERY NIGHT? You have to first realize that RATINGS are their FIRST PRIORITY, not the facts.  Many of these people don’t even agree, and actually know they are starting controversy, but that is what creates BIG RATINGS!

There is no such thing as “OBAMA’S DEATH PANEL”! When you actually read the section of the bill, they are talking about DOCTOR-PATIENT CONSULTATIONS ABOUT END OF LIFE PLANNING, such as drawing up a living will or planning hospice treatment.  Please refer to my other blog about hospice care. YOU WILL FIND THIS BLOG IN THE CATEGORY SECTION ON THE LEFT HAND SIDE OF THIS PAGE, UNDER “OTHER TOPICS OF INTEREST”? It describes “advance care planning”, clearly stating on page (424, lines 21-23) that this means a consultation between the individual and a practitioner.  IT IS NOT ABOUT AN INDIVIDUAL AND THE GOVERNMENT.

Everyone needs a LIVING WILL!

If you do not have one, please ask your doctor.  If you leave these kinds of decisions up to your family, many times they do not have the heart to do what needs to be done.  We have all seen cases like this in the news and it gets blown totally out of proportion to the “real” situation.  Most of us would not want to be kept alive for years or even months on machines when there is no chance of recovery.

Just a little COMMON SENSE would do us all some good!  I’m sure many of you have had terminally ill members of your family and have gone through these gut-wrenching decisions.

Please remember that if it sounds ridiculous, it probably is ridiculous!

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY: ALL OF US COULD TAKE A LESSON FROM THE WEATHER.  IT PAYS NO ATTENTION TO CRITICISM.

A couple of BLOGS ago, scroll down, I wrote a bit about natural remedies and if Medicare would cover these expenses.  I also wanted to go over some nutritional issues that many people are finding helpful in wellness education.

The FIRST thing to remember as I went over before is that your doctor needs to know every supplement you take as some of them interfere with your medications and surgeries.

If you have never gone to www.Realage.com, please take the time to visit this website.  There is a section on “Staying Young” and gives you a Warranty Lesson on your health.  I have taken the liberty of sharing some of this great information with you.

FOODS TO FIGHT AGING

1.  FOLIC ACID – 800 micrograms a day will help your hearing for high-frequency sounds.

2. TURMERIC – an Indian spice for boosting memory and brain function.  You can check out mustards that contain this spice and also add it to soups, chicken and shrimp dishes.

3. GREEN TEA – flushes out toxins and boosts immunity.  It is advised to drink a very strong cup of green tea with the juice of 1/2 lemon before you eat anything in the morning.  This cleanses your liver and also helps with metabolism.

4. MAGNESIUM – helps lower blood pressure and reduce heart arrhythmia.  You can get magnesium from lima beans, avocado, whole grains, beets and raisins.  You should get 400 mgs a day.  1 cup of cooked lima beans has 100 mgs.

5. CHIA SEEDS – isn’t that funny?  You can get these seeds at your health food store.  They have the most antioxidant potency of any food.  It is a nutty tasting grain with Omega 3 fatty acids.  Take 2 daily doses of 2 tablespoons each.  You can sprinkle on your cereal, yogurt, salads or in muffin mixes or smoothies.

If you visit this website there are all kinds of info with recipes using foods that improve your health.  Good reading!